Well, it's decided, I've heard enough good things about this game now to confirm that I'll have to pick it up on release.

The game may indeed be a prequel, but I'm still wondering if it's actually just a prequel, or also a reboot, as they once said if I recall correctly. If it isn't a reboot, if they were hoping to continue on the series, they would eventually run into the events of the first DX game and the multiple endings for Invisible War, which can't really be reconciled like they did for Deus Ex.

One thing about the review though, haven't there always been Illumati references (ridiculous or otherwise) in this series? After all, you can't really have a conspiracy without at least one of the Illuminati/MJ-12/Templars.

It looks interesting, but one question: Is the story pretty self contained or will I need to have played the previous Deus Ex games to really understand everything?

I had the same question, as I've only played some of the original one (Going through it right now, actually). However, since it's a prequel I would guess that knowing the backstory won't be utterly crucial to playing except for some nonessential hooks to draw it into the other games.

So is a non-combat Jensen viable? I wanted to focus on the stealth and social aspects of the game. I actually wanted to try a no-kill playthrough on my first go at it. So do the bosses make that impossible? The previews led me to believe that it was possible, but your review seems to indicate otherwise.

DustyDrB:So is a non-combat Jensen viable? I wanted to focus on the stealth and social aspects of the game. I actually wanted to try a no-kill playthrough on my first go at it. So do the bosses make that impossible?

DustyDrB:So is a non-combat Jensen viable? I wanted to focus on the stealth and social aspects of the game. I actually wanted to try a no-kill playthrough on my first go at it. So do the bosses make that impossible?

Yes, bosses are forced and there is no option other than killing them

Wasnt that the same problem with Alpha Protocol? Seems like just the game they would learn mistakes from....

I feel relieved thats it hasnt trashed a beloved franchise from my early game playing days. However its also good that because I thought it was inevitably going to suck I didnt waste any time looking forward to it.

Now its revealed its actually awesome and its here in a few days, cant ask for more really

DustyDrB:So is a non-combat Jensen viable? I wanted to focus on the stealth and social aspects of the game. I actually wanted to try a no-kill playthrough on my first go at it. So do the bosses make that impossible?

Yes, bosses are forced and there is no option other than killing them

Wasnt that the same problem with Alpha Protocol? Seems like just the game they would learn mistakes from....

The original required you kill one character to proceed (Anna Navare), but gameplay-wise you didn't have to do so through combat. He didn't really say whether or not these required bosses have to be fought directly with guns or if there are other ways of killing them, which I guess would determine how much of a misstep it is.

Wasnt that the same problem with Alpha Protocol? Seems like just the game they would learn mistakes from....

The original required you kill one character to proceed (Anna Navare), but gameplay-wise you didn't have to do so through combat. He didn't really say whether or not these required bosses have to be fought directly with guns or if there are other ways of killing them, which I guess would determine how much of a misstep it is.

As far as I've read elsewhere even if you take out a boss using non lethal weapons such as a stun gun the cut scene following their death shows them riddled with bullets, bloody, etc.

The original required you kill one character to proceed (Anna Navare), but gameplay-wise you didn't have to do so through combat. He didn't really say whether or not these required bosses have to be fought directly with guns or if there are other ways of killing them, which I guess would determine how much of a misstep it is.

Actually, no. You were not required to kill Anna. You could stay idly by and let her shoot Lebedev.The one person you really had to kill is Walton Simons.

The original required you kill one character to proceed (Anna Navare), but gameplay-wise you didn't have to do so through combat. He didn't really say whether or not these required bosses have to be fought directly with guns or if there are other ways of killing them, which I guess would determine how much of a misstep it is.

Actually, no. You were not required to kill Anna. You could stay idly by and let her shoot Lebedev.The one person you really had to kill is Walton Simons.

I think you're thinking of a different part. Later than Lebedev (who you can also just kill yourself), after you're forced by the game to quit UNATCO, you encounter her in the subway. You either have to kill her, disable her, or get killed by her. If you kill her/stun her you have to surrender to the other augmented guy (forgot his name, sorry). After whatever happens, you're imprisoned at UNATCO where if Anna isn't already dead, you are required to use her kill password to get past her.

I think you're thinking of a different part. Later than Lebedev (who you can also just kill yourself), after you're forced by the game to quit UNATCO, you encounter her in the subway. You either have to kill her, disable her, or get killed by her. If you kill her/stun her you have to surrender to the other augmented guy (forgot his name, sorry). After whatever happens, you're imprisoned at UNATCO where if Anna isn't already dead, you are required to use her kill password to get past her.

And I'm pretty sure Simmons can be stunned.

Strange. I was pretty sure that I didn't kill Anna on my first playthrough many, many years ago. On the other hand, I couldn't find a way to get past Simons without blowing him up.But maybe time and old age (cough, cough) have clouded my mind.

The review makes it feel like the Original Deus Ex.. which is a GOOD THING.I loved the ability to think my way out of situations instead of having to kill everyone.So glad this didn't go down the road to dumbification town that Invisible War did.

DustyDrB:So is a non-combat Jensen viable? I wanted to focus on the stealth and social aspects of the game. I actually wanted to try a no-kill playthrough on my first go at it. So do the bosses make that impossible? The previews led me to believe that it was possible, but your review seems to indicate otherwise.

Technically you don't 'kill' most of the bosses from what I understand. At least one of them kills himself in the following cutscene.

I've also heard that the Spec Ops in the tutorial level have to be killed as well, but it looked like you could sneak past them...won't know until tomorrow, I suppose.

Edit: Forgot to mention, there IS a trophy/achievement for doing a zero kill playthrough. Bosses are exempt and the Spec Ops guys from the start may be as well.

Gunther Hermann was also a potential boss, but a little research could net you his kill phrase. Then all you had to do was mutter it and put on your best troll face. :)

I'm glad to see that DX:HR is receiving such good reviews. Being from the south shore of Montreal, I always feel a bit of vicarious pride whenever I hear that the latest Assassin's Creed was well-received or that other big-name publishers are picking Quebec over one of the other provinces to settle their new studios.

Ever since 2001 or thereabouts, being a gamer and a Québécois has been rather awesome, to tell you the truth.

As to how the game's meant to be played, I don't know. I don't think it's really feasible to commit to a no-kills run, seeing as food items and ammo probably aren't going to be excessively common. In the original Deus Ex, you had to ration your ammo as closely as you possibly could. Food wasn't that much of a concern, there were vending machines propped up everywhere. It clamped down on the run-and-gun potential of the game, and I remember a lot of my then-Unreal-obsessed buds feeling left out because they couldn't just mow down a room's worth of goons and still be standing. DX feels more like a melting pot or a gaming potpourri, and the player's expected to just dip his hands in there and pick not necessarily what he'd like to do, but what he can do. As with everything with RPG leanings, the key element is probably going to be specialization, even if a few late-game screens gave me the impression that Jensen can technically access every single aug in a single playthrough.

DustyDrB:So is a non-combat Jensen viable? I wanted to focus on the stealth and social aspects of the game. I actually wanted to try a no-kill playthrough on my first go at it. So do the bosses make that impossible? The previews led me to believe that it was possible, but your review seems to indicate otherwise.

Technically you don't 'kill' most of the bosses from what I understand. At least one of them kills himself in the following cutscene.

I've also heard that the Spec Ops in the tutorial level have to be killed as well, but it looked like you could sneak past them...won't know until tomorrow, I suppose.

Edit: Forgot to mention, there IS a trophy/achievement for doing a zero kill playthrough. Bosses are exempt and the Spec Ops guys from the start may be as well.

Oh, well that's a pretty definitive answer. I wasn't really complaining before, just curious. Now I'll have to figure out how I'm going to spec myself out for those fights.

Wasnt that the same problem with Alpha Protocol? Seems like just the game they would learn mistakes from....

The original required you kill one character to proceed (Anna Navare), but gameplay-wise you didn't have to do so through combat. He didn't really say whether or not these required bosses have to be fought directly with guns or if there are other ways of killing them, which I guess would determine how much of a misstep it is.

The original required you kill one character to proceed (Anna Navare), but gameplay-wise you didn't have to do so through combat. He didn't really say whether or not these required bosses have to be fought directly with guns or if there are other ways of killing them, which I guess would determine how much of a misstep it is.

Actually, no. You were not required to kill Anna. You could stay idly by and let her shoot Lebedev.The one person you really had to kill is Walton Simons.

You could run by Simons as well. It is possible to play through Deus Ex without killing anyone. Bob Page dies in one of the endings, so for the no kill you can't complete the Tracer Tong ending. You don't have to kill Anna either, but Gunther still makes it sound like you killed her.

100% completion with no kills is possible depending on the ending you choose. Bob Page dies in the Tracer Tong ending when the base explodes. If you go with the illuminati ending or merge with helios it is ambiguous as to whether he lives or not.

Seeing as I have commited a big sin as a big RPG fan (never played the original beyond 10 minutes, it well and truly exposed me for the graphics snob I can be), this provides me a big opportunity to finally see the awesomeness of Deus Ex.And hey, my ancient pc can run it, too! Was afraid that I had to grab it for the 360 like every other damn game these days.